Unfortunately, I haven't had my hands on a Tascam recorder outside NAB. I used to have a contact there. It would have been way cool to compare it to the H4n.

Jon,

I have a Tascam DR-100 on loan from the distributor. We're in the same state so if I send it to you, it would arrive the next day. If you'd like to use it for 2-3 days to run some tests before I have to send it back, you're more than welcome.

Unfortunately, I think I'll have to pass for now, as the day job and another project have me consumed. Also, I no longer have the H4n (it was borrowed), and that's the recorder that I'd most like to hear in a head to head comparison.

What I'd really love to hear these up against is one of the Sound Devices recorders. As SD is the gold standard, I'd love to know where these affordable recorders really stand.

Hey, Guy, have you done anything at all with the Tascam with external mics? The only negative thing I've read about is that one person said it seemed to want more gain. I'd like to know if you can get decent levels without cranking up all the way with a normal short shotgun. One of the problems with my older Microtrack is that you have to go as high as you can to just get a useable level.

...One of the problems with my older Microtrack is that you have to go as high as you can to just get a useable level.

I have the Microtrack II, and its gain is digital. I'd assume that that the older one has no variable analog gain either. You can test this by lowering the gain below 50% and screaming into your mic. If you see hard clipping in the middle of the digital range, it's proof that the gain is after the A/D.

This means that you should leave the Microtrack II gain at 50% at all times for the best dynamic range. Any gain can be applied in post with the same results as in the MT.

We now use the juicedLink CX231 as a front end to the MT2. It's still slightly noisier than the H4n, but very close in overall performance.

Dear Jon,
I bought my 5DMKII when it first came out and since I watched my first video and noticed that loud hiss. Since then I have read everything you released and I have to thankyou for educating me so well. I shoot live music; mostly songwriters in concert. I've tried many different setups and think I've found the best for my line of work. I use a matched pair of Schoeps MK4's that go into a NBOX pre-amp. I use a -20dB attenuator and plug this directly into the camera. I also run a separate Sound Devices 744T recorder with a Sound Device USBPre2 preamp directly off the soundboard. I dump the video and audio onto my hard drive and then I use Final Cut Pro with Plural Eyes to sync the soundboard audio with the audio recorded by the 5DMKII. It takes less than 5 minutes and I am done. I keep the soundboard audio in the middle of the mix and each mic that was recorded my the 5DMKII panned left or right.
I tried Juicelink, Korg M-1, Sony m-10 as well as a host of other products and while most were pretty good, they all had their drawbacks. I suggest your readers look at the newly released USBPre2 from Sound Device. It is the best all around preamp for recording into a recorder or computer that is portable and requires no power. Hope this is of benefit to you and your readers of which, I am one. Peace, Joe Ray Skrha